Solvent-Driven Formation of Worm-Like Micelles Assembled from a CO₂-Responsive Triblock Copolymer

Polymer worm-like micelles (WLMs) are difficult to target due to the narrow composition window. In this work, we report polymer WLMs self-assembled from a linear ABC triblock copolymer consisting of an intermediate fluorinated block of poly(2,2,3,4,4,4-hexafluorobutyl methacrylate) (F), a hydrophilic segment of poly(ethylene oxide) (O) and a CO2-responsive flank of poly(2-(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (E). In the mixed solvent of water and ethanol, the polymer aggregates evolve from spheres to short rods, then long cylinders and finally WLMs when the volume ratio of water increases from 0 to 50%. Upon the stimulus of CO2, the E block is protonated, thus transforms from hydrophobic to hydrophilic. However, the WLMs just partially return back to spheres even the protonation degree of E block is up to 95%. The closely packed arrangement of fluorinated block caused by the increasing interfacial tension of the fluorinated blocks and solvent could account for the formation of WLMs and its shape alternation under CO2 stimulus.